Crime and Famalaro’s Childhood

* Your Aug. 26 story, “Famalaro’s Sister Wonders Where It Started” should cause us all, again, to examine the idea of prevention when examining crime in our society. I am sure that many read this story and viewed it as another defense ploy for this accused killer. This, of course, is a possibility.

We must not, however, continue to disregard the impact of child abuse on criminal behavior. One does not have to have invested years in studying human behavior to conclude that when violence is used to discipline and “teach” children, the only lesson learned is that violence is a way to have power and control. We know that most juvenile and adult offenders were abused as children, yet we continue to build prisons, rather than spend a lot less to teach a generation how not to be violent.

As long as our money goes to treatment and punishment, we will continue to ignore prevention. If the task of nurturing children were given the same priority as crime in this society, imagine the difference we could make.

IRENE BRIGGS

Huntington Beach

* Am I really expected to blame John Famalaro’s mother for his problems? Or am I expected to pity Famalaro because he had an imperfect home life? In either case I don’t.

If Famalaro did indeed murder Denise Huber then he is guilty of a crime! His actions require and deserve retribution regardless of his past, regardless of his sanity at the time of the murder.

In the real world there are consequences from every action (e.g. if I refuse to study, I flunk; if I speed, I get a ticket; if I murder someone, I go to jail). Sometimes blaming the past for pain and misfortune doesn’t solve the problem. For the sake of Denise Huber and preventing the deaths of others like her, this is one of those times.

REGINA POWERS

Orange